Today: US House of Representatives NTIA Reauthorization, FCC Facilitates Broadband Deployment in New York

US House of Representatives NTIA Reauthorization

The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), will hold a hearing on February 2, 2017, entitled, “Reauthorization of NTIA.” 

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is tasked with serving as the president’s principal advisor on communications policy.  The NTIA administrator is the coordinator of government spectrum allocations, and the voice of the administration at the FCC and in Congress on communications and information policy.  The members “take a holistic look at the NTIA with an eye toward updating the NTIA Organization Act for the 21st Century.”

FCC Facilitates Broadband Deployment In New York

In its first action under Chairman Ajit Pai, the FCC voted to provide up to $170 million from the Connect America Fund to expand broadband deployment in unserved rural areas of New York State.  The $170 million in federal funding will be coupled with at least $200 million in state funding and private investment to jump-start broadband deployment and close the digital divide in these unserved areas.  “Broadband is critical to economic opportunity and job creation,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  “This is a first step of many to fulfill my promise to empower Americans with online opportunities, no matter who they are and no matter where they live.”  The Order authorizes Connect America Phase II support in areas where applicants are selected through New York’s competitive New NY Broadband Program, subject to specified conditions to ensure broad participation and ongoing oversight.  The funding that will be made available was declined by Verizon in 2015.

__________________________________________________________________________________

About The Regulatory Mix:

The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of a TMI Briefing.

__________________________________________________________________________________